Bucs at Broncos: What bettors need to know

The signing of Peyton Manning has reaped huge dividends for the Denver Broncos, who can wrap up their second straight AFC West title with a victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Whereas the Broncos lost their final three last season in backing into the division title, Manning has guided them to six consecutive victories and into contention for a possible first-round bye in the postseason. The Buccaneers had their four-game winning streak snapped with last week's one-point home loss to Atlanta, but remain in a three-way tie with the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings for the final playoff spot in the NFC. Denver has not won seven straight since the 1998 season, when it won the second of back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX.

LINE: Broncos -9.5, O/U 51WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for temperatures in the mid-60s and sunny skies. Winds will blow out of the SSW at 5 mph.ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (6-5): Tampa Bay had rolled up an average of nearly 35 points during its four-game winning streak, but bogged down at critical moments in the 24-23 loss to the Falcons. Quarterback Josh Freeman failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season following a stretch of six straight games with multiple scoring passes. The Buccaneers also struggled in the running game, with rookie Doug Martin held to 50 yards on 21 carries following a four-game stretch in which he amassed 592 yards and five touchdowns. Tampa Bay's defense, which ranks last in the league against the pass (315.5 yards), lost CB Eric Wright to a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (8-3): Manning, the league's only four-time MVP, had 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions to insert himself into the conversation for the award once again after sitting out last season while undergoing multiple neck surgeries. Denver's running game got a huge jolt when oft-injured Knowshon Moreno came out of mothballs to rush for 85 yards on 20 carries in last week's 17-9 win at Kansas City. Moreno, a former first-round pick, had not played since Week 2 but filled the void left by the injury to Willis McGahee, who is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. Linebacker Von Miller had eight sacks in four games in November, pushing his total to 14 and giving the Broncos a league-best 37.

TRENDS:

* Buccaneers are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games overall.* Broncos are 4-0 ATS in their last four Week 13 games.* Over is 7-1 in Buccaneers’ last eight games overall.* Buccaneers are 0-4 ATS in their last four December games.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas has gone over 100 yards in three of five home games.

2. Bucs wideouts Vincent Jackson (20.4) and Mike Williams (16.9) rank among the top five in the NFC in yards per catch.

3. Manning produced one of the greatest comebacks in league history against Tampa Bay in 2003, rallying Indianapolis from a 21-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation for a 38-35 overtime win.

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Quarterback Josh Johnson failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season following a stretch of six straight games with multiple scoring passes.
LOL, I didnt know the Jays were playing football now.

1* Cleveland (1:00 ET): The chances for the Browns to avoid the infamy of 0-16 are rapidly dwindling. They are just four games left, but realistically there's probably only two shots where they have a legit chance to win, Dec 24th vs. San Diego and here. This week they are coming off a bye and hosting Cincinnati. I'll recommend to take the points.

It's not as if the Browns haven't been competitive. In fact, they actually outgained the Giants two weeks ago in a 27-13 loss. That game really swung on a defensive score by the G-Men. Despite what the final scores might indicate, they've been competitive in four of the last five games. That doesn't even include close losses to Baltimore, Miami and Tennessee earlier in the year. Robert Griffin III, out since Week 1, is expected to be back this week as the starting QB. Coming off a bye and still motivated to avoid NFL history ('08 Lions only 0-16 team in history), the Browns are a solid value this week. Consider that the "lookahead" line for this game was only +3.5.

The Bengals turned in one of their best performances of the year last week, routing Philadelphia 32-14. But it's "too little, too late" here as a 4-7-1 SU record is probably too big of a hole to climb out of. Even if they were to win out, I'm not sure the Bengals would get into the playoffs. The offense is without WR AJ Green and unlike LW, this is a road game. So far this year, the Bengals are 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS away from home. After being darlings at the betting window LY, Cincy is just 3-8-1 ATS overall in 2016. With Browns HC Hue Jackson being the Bengals former OC, might there be a little sympathy on the sidelines? Not sure, but Cleveland is also due to erase an 0-4 SU/ATS slide in this AFC North rivalry. 1* Cleveland

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